Hinged bus enclosure



Dec. 29, 1953 w. H. scHYMlK 2,664,456

HINGED BUS ENCLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 22, 1950 vll/ll I :Mlm

ATTORNEYS Dec. 29, 1953 w. H. scHYMlK 2,664,456

HI'NGED Bus ENCLOSURE Filed Junne 22, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ,ure/e H. Scl/wwe ATTORN EYS Dec. 29, 1953 w. H. scHYMlK 2,664,456 HINGED Bus ENcLosuRE Filed June 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORN EYS Dec. 29, 1953 w.l H. scHYMlK HINGED Bus ENcLosURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 22, 1950 INVENTOR W41. rae fc//yM/M ATTORN EYS Dec. 29, 1953 w. H. scHYMlK HINGED BUS ENCLOSURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 22, 1950 INVENTOR /I//nrfe .SfHyM/,e

Mum

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company,

Philadelphia,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 22, 1950, Serial No. 169,615

l 3 Claims. My present invention relates to enclosures for electricaly buses and more particularly to a hinged bus enclosure wherein eacn phase of a ous is fully enclosed While, at the same time, the enclosure is so arranged that it may readily 'ce opened for inspection of the bus and to simplify any re placements or repairs which may be required.

Thus, the primary object of my invention is the provision of a bus enclosure for isolated phasebus runs wherein the enclosure itself may readily be opened and closed without dismantling the enclosure in any way.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent' in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure l is a cross-sectional view through one form of hinged bus enclosure of the type generally shown in Figure 27.

Figure 2 is a side View of the bus enclosure of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view partially in cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 of the hinged structure of the bus enclosure of Figures l and 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line li-i of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view partly in cross-section of the hinge structure of Figurev 1 taken on line 5 5- of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modifie-:l form of hinge struct-ure for the bus enclosure.

Figure 7 is a. View taken from line l-'l of Figure 6 showing the clamping member.

Figure 8 is a View taken from line -8 oi Figure 6 showing the hinge member.

Figure 9 a view partly in cross-section taken enl ne S-il ci Figure il. i A

Fgure 1G is a view partly in cross-section taken on line lil- Q of Figure 8.

Figure il is a view corresponding to the leftform of clamping structure.

Figure l2 is another left-hand side oi Figure 6 showing another modim .wed form oi clamping structure. l i

Figure 1.3 is a View taken from line iii-i3 of Figure l2 shot-.fing the clamping structure of Figview corresponding to the,

ture. The hinge and clamping structure here shown correspond to the specific showing utilized in the structure oi Figure 27.

Figure 1.7 is a. View, takeny from line il--l'l of Figure 16 looking in the direction of the-arrows.v

VFigure 18 is a View taken from line i8-|84 0i Figure 16 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional View taken on line iQ-lc of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a view showing a slightly modiiied form of the left-hand clamping structure of Figure 16.

Figure 21 is a View taken from line 2l-2I oi Figure 20 looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Figure 22, is a view, showing another modied form of clamping structure to, be utilized as a. substitute for the clamping structure at the leithand side of Figure 16.

Figure 23 is a view taken from line 23-23 of Figure 22 looking in the direction o the arrows.`

Figure 24 is a view corresponding to a portion of Figure 17 showing another rnodied form of clamping structure.

Figure 25 is a view partly in cross-section taken from line 25-25 of Figure 24 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 26 is an enlarged view showing the method or reinforcing the bent-over flange portion of the housing in the structure of Figure 16.

Figure 26a is a view taken from line 23a-26a oi Figure 23;

Figure 27 is a view in perspective of a bus structure utilizing the members described in connection with e 'gures 1 to 25.

Fig-ure 28 is a View in perspective oi one secn tion of housing unit with two ring supports in closed position.

Figure 29 is a similar view with the top ofthe housing in open position.

Referring first to Figure 27, essentially the type of bus structure here shown is that previously described in Patent No. 2,396,131 as well as in Patent No. 2,293,319 and in application Serial No. 160,899.

Each of the three phases4 of the bus structure including the buses I0, Il shown in Figure 27 is enclosed in its own isolated phase bus run I3, It, l5.

An appropriate framework or sub-structure is provided for the housings which comprises the continuous enclosures i3, I4 and l5. This substructure may comprise part of the building itselfV or may be an independent housing structure engaged schematically by the I beams 2D, El, 2-2 supported by appropriate structural members 23, 24, 25, 26', 2l. A pluralityl of bus support frames 30 are provided spaced at appropriate intervals,

The. upper or hinged section of the housing is also provided with a olevis. |35 having the side plates; 6 and 8'.' in *ci-shaped conformation. These, side plates are, extended, at 35 and 9S to provide a. ineans of securement of the clevis 8.5 to the upper section 5i of the housing.

The plates 85 and 8l have connected between them the.- additional clamping plate 92 which is provided with the slot 93, the slot 93 being adapted to receive the bolt 8| but being smaller than the headY of theholtsi.

Lower housing section 5.6i is provided with a longitudinal flange lil overlying side plates 'il dhd12., The upper housing section 5| is provided with a, longitudinal flange underlying the.V side plates 85 and 87.

When the bol-t. 8| is swung up into the slot t3 andv then rotated by engagement of a proper tool` with its head 95, the flanges i0@ and ici ar, compressed toward each other. gasketing strips i792, |03 may be mounted on rside between. the flanges Idil, im to ensure a completel moisture and .dust excluding seal.

In the structinel here shown in Figures l to 5, the. left-hand side of Figure l is intended here to serve as a clamp and the right-hand side is intended to serve as the hinge. These sides are, however, identical and have consequently been given the sainey reference numbers.

Thus, the left-hand side may serve hinge and the right-hand side as the clamp. if the right-hand side is always to serve a hinge, then the slot 33 may be omitted from the right-hand side and a simple hole inay be substituted therefor. slot 93 on each side, the hinge half 5| oi each housing section may be opened hingedly at either side and may, if desired, be fully removed.

ln order to provide an additional dust excluding seal and to strengthen the. housing at the point of seal, a reinforcing longitudinal element lie4 may be secured on each side to thev upper section of the lower housing section The corners at the point of connection between nariges |043, i with their respective housing elements may be reinforced as hereinafter det scribed particularly connection with Figures 26 and 26a.

In Figures 6' to ,lo I have shown a modified construction wherein onek side always serves as a. hinge and the other side always serves clamping construction.

The left-hand side of Figure 6 is provided with the clamp shown particularly in Figures 6 and 7. In this case, the lower housing section 5l) carries the clevis |23 having the plates 2| and 22 between which rotatably support the hinge pin E23 in appropriate openings in the plates i2!l and E22; the hinge pin [being secured in position by cotter pins |21. and |25.

C-shaped clamping bracket I Ii. is rotatably inotmted on the hinge pin I 2t.,v the upper leg |32 of the C carrying in a tapped opening l 3| thereof the clamping bolt 33 having the. clamping head |34.

The housing sections are provided with flanges Idil and |01 as previously described in connec tion with Figure l.

When the C clamp |30- is rotated frein the dotted line position of Fig re d to the solid luie position thereof, the bolt |33 may be turned down to clamp the ledges lui) and together with the gaskets i132 and iS on eac side between them.

Appropriate as the However, by providing the N section 5| of the housing may be ro The upperange [Gi is provided with the downwardly directed extension lea shown .at the left-hand side of Figure d to provide a reinforoing dust excluding seal for the gaskets m2 and w3. This extension is provi-:led on both sides.

'Ihe structure at the right-hand Figure 6` in order to provide a hinge arrange-ment also comprises a clevis |40 on the lower housing, the side plates Mi and |42 of which carll t |43 between them,A the pin being position by cotter pins led and itil. bracket i pivotally mounted on the pin $0.3 and is provided at its upper end with the pin 58 which engagesl in the opposite slots thi, |552v inthe upper clevis |63 comprising the ld and |55.

Thus, hinge the clevis |53 slots |6| and $62 and held in posi cotter pins 66 and ll.

Thusl when the Q-shaped |730 is released at the left-hand as shown by the dotted lines, e

wise first around the pivot pin it and then about the pivot pin i or simultaneously about both pins.

However, to secure a dust excluding seal at the gaskets 02 and |3 on the hinge side, my hinge bracket may also be a clamping bracket in which the bolt |53 is provided with the clamping head i 5'4, the bolt being received in the tapped i5! of the upper leg 52 or the hinge bracket |55.

After the bus housing is closed, boit E53 is rotated down to eiect a clamping env-agement on the right side similar to the clamping engagenient by holt |33 on the left it opening of the hinge top 5|, the C-si i-Bii is moved from the solid line poy dotted line position of Figure o after oi the clamping bolt |33 on that and sim larly bolt |53 on the hinge side moved to released position so that the hah di of the housing may then be swung up and cloclI .rise to open the housing.

ln .Figures 'l andv l0 I have shown modified method of securing the secured section of the housing to the ring 30.

The raised' portion 36a (see Figurg` el) 30 is in the modification of Figures 7, S provided with transverse tapped openings H0, lll.

When the lower section 5d of the hou in placed in position, the bolts |12 carrying the bushings |13 are rotated into the t vpped openings Il and lli as shown in Figures 7, 8, and- 10, these bushings being so diniensioned that hold the lower housing section in place and particularly being so arranged that they underlie the longitudinal extensions ldd on. each side to provide a frln support for the lower housing section 50.

The bushings |`|3V4 are of insulating material so that thev lower housing sections 5G are isolated from each other.

In Figure 11 I have shown a modified forni of the clamp at the left-hand side of 6 in which the clamp bracket 30 and all elements are identical -with the structure shown in Figure. 6,k the only exception that the downwardly extended nange icio wardly extended iiange da of iffu s this downwardly extended flange hears against the top surface of plates 52| 22 and thus the release i? provides a limit to the clamping pressure which may be imposed on the gaskets E62 and 23.

It will be obvious that any of the clamp members here shown may be used in combination with any of the hinge members here shown and thus that the clamping member of Figure 1l on the left side may Kbe used in combination with a hinge member o Figure 1 on the right side, as well as in combination with other hinge members herein shown.

Likewise, the hinge member at the right-hand side oi` Figure 6 may be used in combination with a clamping member at the left-hand side of Figure 1 or in combination with any of the other clamping members here shown.

In Figures 12 and 13 I have shown a modified form oi clamping member wherein the G-shaped clamping bracket li-Ti is removable. The housing sections 52 and 5i are provided with the flanges Hit and lill, the gaskets 522 and E23 on each side and the downwardly extending riange mit.

The upper leg 22 or the clamping bracket is provided with the clamping belt ld in threaded engagement therewith. rIhe lower leg l@ of the clamping bracket is provided with the notch 195 engageable with the correspondingly shaped member 26 secured to the underside of the lower ledge itl).

It will here be obvious that tightening of bolt m3 effects a clamping action and loosening of bolt M3 releases the clamping action. The member E95 may be relatively soft and slightly deformable, if desired, to ensure good clamping pressure.

In Figures 14 and 15 I have shown another modified form oi clamping arrangement wherein the hinge section is provided with a clevis 299 having the substantially horizontal platform 2.2i and the secured portion is provided with a clevis 222 having the substantially horizontal platform 203.

It should here be noted that the utilization of the term horizontal is to be deiined by the previous reference to the hinge section 5l as an upper section and the secured section 52 of the housing as a lower section.

The relative orientation may change as previously described, but the term horizontal is used for convenience in deining the orientation of the various parts with respect to the enclosure members.

Thus, in a vertical bus run the horizontal platforms 26! and 222 may actually extend vertically. In this case, the clamping action of Figures 11i and i5 s provided by a bolt 225 passing through the aligned forms 26E and 203 and into the nut 228, the nut being so dimensioned that it cannot rotate between the plates of clevis 222.

The openings 266 and 227 may be circular openings, in which case to release the clamp entirely and thereby permit opening of the hinge top it will be necessary to withdraw the bolt 225 from the nut 222. Preferably the Iopenings 226 and 22? are slotted and connected with the outer edges of the platforms 213i and 263 so that the bolt 225 after having been loosened may be withdrawn with its nut trom the clevises 2M and 202 without the necessity for a full rotation of the bolt 225 out of the nut 2l8.

In Figures 16, 17 and 18 I have shown a slight modification of the structure of Figures 6 to 9, the modification being such that the description heretofore set forth with respect to Figures 6 to 9 is applicable with equal iorce to Figures 16 to openings 226, 261 in plat- 3 18, the only essential diierence being that the flange llb is extended for the purpose shown in Figure 11 and the bolt 133e on the clamping side and the bolt I53a on the hinge side are reversed so that the heads 13211 and 154e are accessible for operation by a tool; the bolts, therefore, do not require a special conformation of their opposite end to render them operable by a tool.

The heads llla and i541; or the bolts Hita and l53a, respectively, are no longer clamping heads but merely the sections of the bolts which may readily be engaged by a tool.

In Figures 17, 18 and 19 I have also shown a modified method of securing the lower secured section 5t of the housing to the annular rings 3B.

In this case, instead of housing the spring clamping strap 55 of Figure 4, the annular strip 56a may be provided on each side secured in position by bolts 50a extending into the heads d0 and di. The other elements are identical except that the insulating strip 58h on one side is folded around the end of the secured housing section on one side to ensure full isolation of the housing section from the ring Sil and hence the longitudinally adjacent secured bus section 5l).

Instead or a continuous strip 55a on each side, the said strip having an arcuate length, of course, equal to the arcuate length of the housing section 52, a plurality of individual clips may be utilized for the same purpose.

In Figures 20 and 21 I have shown a slightly modified form of the C-shaped clamping member of Figures 6 and 16 and consequently the elements have been given the same reference numbers as Figures 6 and 16, the only essential difference being that instead oi mounting the pin 23 in openings in the lower clevis 22, the pin 23 is mounted in slots 2 lll in the lower clevis 120 so that the C-shaped clamp 132 may more readily swing out and down.

In Figures 22 and 23 I have shown another form of clamping member wherein the housing structure, flanges lilll and lGl and associated elements are the same.

However, the lower housing 5i) is fitted with the bracket 228 having the tapped opening 22| therein and extending up outside the flange lill and llb. A b-olt 222 enters the tapped opening 22E but has rotatably mounted thereon the clamping element 225. Clamping element 225 may be rotated to the position shown by the solid lines of Figures 22 and 23 to engage the top surface of flange ll and thus clamp the upper housing section 5l to the lower housing section 5G.

After the bolt 22 is loosened, the clamping element 225 may be rotated to the dotted line position where it is out of clamping engagement with the upper surface of flange lill so that the hinge top section 5l of the housing may be lifted.

The clamping member 225 may be provided with the downwardly extending latch 222 to prevent accidental rotation out of clamping position when the bolt 222 is downwardly pressed for clamping engagement.

In Figures 24 and 25 I have shown a'modied form of the G-shaped clamping member 32 of Figures 6, 16 and 20 in which the operation is identical with that already described in connection with Figure 20.

However, the C-shaped clamping bracket it@ instead of being held on pin E23 as described in connection with Figures 6, 16 and 20, is so arranged that its lower leg 232 enters the slot 23d in the support bracket 232 on the lower housing.

The lower leg 230 of the C-shaped clamping bracket is provided with cross-bar 232a which is wider than the slot 235 so that when the C- shaped clamping bracket itil of Figure 25 is swung to the dotted line position of Figure 25, the crossubar 232 will prevent accidental removal of the clamping bracket 130.

Thus, another type of hinge mounting for the clamping bracket |352 is provided.

In Figures 26 and 26a I have shown the manner in which the curve between the flanges les and mi and their respective housing sections Eil and i on each side may be built up at the clamping areas on each side to make a continuous inner circle in which a straight piece of gasket material may be used to provide an eihcient seal at the insulatorl rings.

An aluminum weld or other material may be built up as shown atV 250 of Figures and 26a, as well as at 2511 of Figures 1, 6 and i6 in order to provide the necessary right angle surfaces to produce a continuous inner circle and permit a straight gasket to be used.

As previously pointed out, the various clamping structures may be utilized in connection with various hinge structures so that the clamping structure of Figure 1 may be utilized in connection with, for instance, the hinge structure of Figure 6 and the hinge structure of Figure 1G may be utilized in connection with, for instance, the clamping structure of Figure 14.

Similarly, the methods of securing the secured section 50 of the housing in position may be utilized in various ways. Thus, the securement of Figure 4 may be utilized in connection with the structure of Figure 16, and the method of securement of Figure 8 may be utilized in conn nection with the structure of Figure 1.

In all of these cases the prime consideration is the provision of a bus housing with a hinge cover, said hinge cover being operable irrespective of whether it happens to extend at the top, at the bottom or along the side of a bus housing.

In some of the forms herein described, the hinge cover may selectively be utilized as a hinge cover or as a removable cover depending on the needs of the operator.

I claim:

1. A sectionalized bus enclosure comprising a plurality of bus support frames spaced at appropriate intervals, each of said frames comprising annular members having legs, a structural support for each oi said frames, insulators supported by said frames, said insulators supporting said bus, each of said frames having an annular groove carrying an annular gasket on each side of said frames, a bus housing comprising a first and second partly cylindrical section, the iirst and second sections forming a cylinder, the rst section being secured between adjacent supporting frames, iianges formed throughout the length of and along both sides of each of said housing sections, a hinge support for said second section on each flange of said first section, gaskets secured to each of the flanges of one of said sections so that when said sections are in engagement with each other for closure, a moisture and dust prooi seal is provided, a clamping member pivotally mounted on said hinge supports on both sides of said first cylindrical section, said clamping member being pivotally movable in its support for engaging and securing the adjacent ange of said second section to the iixed cylindrical section so that when the clamps along one side engage and are secured to the adjacent anges, said second section is rotatable on said 10 i t for permitting opening of said second section from the opposite side.

2. A sectionalized enclosure comprising a plurality of bus support frames spaced at appropriate intervals, insulators supported by said frames, said insulators supporting said bus, each of said frames having an annular groove carrying an annular gasket on each side of said frames, a bus housing comprising a first and second partly cylindrical section, the rst and second sections forming a cylinder, the rst section being secured between adjacent supporting frames, iianges formed throughout the length of and at each side of each of said housing sections, clamping means on each side of said cylindrical sections, said clamping means comprising a plurality of pins, one of said pins being mounted at the iiange of said second section on one side and another oi said pins being rotatably mounted at the iiange of said second section on the opposite side, said clamping means further comprising a clamp pivotally mounted on each of said pins and rotatable on its associated pin into clamping engagement with the adjacent flange of said rst section, gaskets secured to the flanges of one of said sections so that when said sections are brought into engagement with each other for closure, a moisture and dust proof seal is provided, said clamping means, when in clamping engagement along one side, providing a pivotal support on its associated pin for permitting rotatable movement of said rst section on said pin to open position from the opposite side.

3. A sectionalized bus enclosure comprising a plurality of bus support frames spaced at appropriate intervals, insulators supported by said, frames, said insulators supporting said bus, each of said frames having an annular groove carrying an annular gasket on each side of said frames, a bus housing comprising a rst and second partly cylindrical section, the rst and second sections each extending between said rings and forming a cylinder, the rst section being secured between adjacent supporting frames, iianges formed throughout the length of and at the side of said housing sections, a hinge support for said second section on a flange of said rst cylindrical section, gaskets secured to said flanges so that when one of said sections is rotated with respect to the other for closure, a moisture and dust seal is provided, and a clamping member pivoted at a iiange of said rst housing section for securing the side opposite the pivoted side of said pivoted cylindrical section to the lixed cylindrical section, said clamping member and hinge support being constructed so that the pivoted section can be pivoted open from either side and clamped at either side, said clamping member and hinge support comprising identical components, said identical components comprising a base plate, a clevis attached to said first section in U-shaped conformation with said base plate, a rotatable pin supported by said clevis, a second clevis attached to said second section, a bolt supported by said second clevis for detachably securing said rst and second clevis. WALTER I-I. SCHYMIK.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,913,552 Jackson June 13, 1933 1,992,574 Jenkins Feb. 26, 1935 2,396,131 Scott Mar. 5, 1946 

